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Kootenays Wine Country

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Kootenays Wine region

An intense landscape and lifestyle, softened by the fruits of fertile valleys.

Flanked by the Selkirk and Purcell mountain ranges, the region is an outdoor playground dotted with charming, industrious towns. In the Kootenays, mountain culture is more than a lifestyle—it’s an identity of self-reliance and living off the land. The Ktunaxa First Nations have sustainably harvested, hunted, and stewarded in this area since time immemorial. Their culture is interconnected with the water, the earth, and the animals who call this place home.

The wine region is located east of the Okanagan Valley and surrounded by mountains, with its richest agricultural lands sitting at lower elevations near Grand Forks, the Creston Valley, and surrounding watersheds. Explore these fertile pockets to indulge in farm-fresh produce and tastings at family-owned wineries, all set against a spectacular natural backdrop. Strike up a conversation with salt-of-the-earth locals at a favourite haunt and connect with the fabric of tight-knit communities.

  • While relatively new to the Canadian wine scene, vintners in the Kootenays are garnering attention for their innovative and experimental approach to winemaking. The region’s terroir is shaped by the dense mountain ranges that surround it. Although the overall climate is moderate, the growing season is short but intense, favouring cool-climate varieties like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Ortega. Mid-season-ripening reds such as Pinot Noir and Maréchal Foch also thrive here, producing well-balanced wines with earthy fruit notes and structured acidity.

  • PINOT NOIR
  • GEWÜRZTRAMINER
  • CHARDONNAY
  • PINOT GRIS
  • MARÉCHAL FOCH
  • RIESLING
  • GAMAY NOIR

Shaped by the Mountains

Tucked in the southeast corner of British Columbia near the US border, the continental climate of the Kootenays is as varied as the landscapes. Warm, sun-soaked summers give way to cold, snowy winters, ideal for grape varieties that thrive in intense environments. Day-to-day temperature variations also aid ripening, with hot days and cool nights preserving bright acidity and enhancing complexity in the fruit. Vineyards soak up long summer daylight hours that extend the growing potential.


Rooted in Deep Time

The valley soils of the Kootenays form a vibrant mosaic of mineral-rich layers, formed by retreating glaciers, ancient lakebeds, and centuries of erosion. Glacial till, gravel, silt, and loam reflect the passage of deep time in a landscape formed by volcanoes and vast ice sheets. Sipping wine from the Kootenays offers a direct connection to this ancient geological history.

7

Wineries

9+

varietals

117

ACRES PLANTED

Kootenays

WINERIES

Exploring British Columbia’s vineyards reveals the unique terroir & diverse varietals flourishing in this picturesque Canadian province.

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Beyond Tastings: Regional Activities

Come for the mountains, stay for the cuisine and culture. The Kootenays is as much a haven for slow travel as it is the ultimate adventure destination. On any given day, you can hike to distant backcountry summits, get your heart pumping on a mountain bike ride, or soothe aching muscles in nearby hot springs. Equally as delightful are the quieter moments of reflection and curiosity. The days call for exploring heritage sites, savouring a meal prepared with local ingredients or filling a picnic basket with regional goodies and a bottle of white to enjoy while overlooking colourful, panoramic views.

Play Outside

  • Downhill skiing & snowboarding
  • Nordic skiing
  • Snowmobiling
  • Backcountry touring
  • Snowshoeing
  • Hiking
  • Mountain biking
  • Watersports
  • Golfing
  • Fishing

Adventure Together

  • Museums & galleries
  • Live music
  • Heritage attractions
  • Community theatre
  • Festivals & events

unwind

  • Shopping
  • Spa & wellness
  • Markets
  • Farm stands
  • Orchards
  • Self-guided walking tours
  • Hot springs
  • Art galleries
  • Wineries, cideries, breweries & distilleries

EXPLORE

MORE BC WINE REGIONS

A group of wine lovers sample fruit forward wines while enjoying a catered lunch next to gently sloping vineyards at an airy tasting room in an Okanagan Valley, British Columbia vineyard restaurant.

The Okanagan Valley

10,920

Acres Planted

210

Licensed Grape Wineries

With an ever-changing panorama, the valley stretches over 250 kilometres, across sub-regions, each with distinct soil and climate conditions suited to growing a range of varietals from sun-ripened reds to lively fresh and often crisp whites.

A vineyard with flat rows of grapes during growing season in the Kootenay region, home to backyard vineyards, family owned estate vineyards, and some award winning bc wineries.

Kootenays

117

Acres Planted

7

Licensed Grape Wineries

Located in the southeastern corner of British Columbia, the Kootenay region is home to pristine rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches, mineral hot springs, alpine meadows and snow-capped mountains.

Shuswap vineyard in Recline Ridge with pinot noir in BC’s wine country

Shuswap

107

Acres Planted

6

Licensed Grape Wineries

Wines have been produced here since 1997, predominately of cool climate varieties, which is understandable as it is one of the most northerly grapegrowing regions in North America.

The sun setting over a Thompson Valley vineyard with rugged mountains extending into the horizon.

Thompson Valley

93

Acres Planted

3

Licensed Grape Wineries

Nestled amongst the natural beauty of the North and South Thompson Rivers in and around Kamloops, the rain shadow of the high coastal mountains, the semi-arid conditions and diverse microclimates provide many creative options for our winemakers to shine.

A couple riding bicycles under an aqueduct through a vineyard in the Southern Okanagan, BC, Canada.

The Similkameen Valley

768

Acres Planted

17

Licensed Grape Wineries

The Similkameen Valley is a pristine stretch of vineyards, set amongst the dramatic backdrop of rugged and awe-inspiring mountains. Considered the “organic capital of Canada”, the area is known for small farms and producers dedicated to creating quality produce, delectable foods, and award-winning wines.

A photo of grapes growing at Banner Fraser Valley winery with an estate home in the midground.

Fraser Valley

194

Acres Planted

28

Licensed Grape Wineries

Encompassing Vancouver, Surrey, Richmond, New Westminster to Delta, Langley, Aldergrove and Abbotsford in the east, the Fraser Valley wine region is dedicated to producing high quality, handcrafted wines with diverse varieties and styles: from unique fruit wines to delicious sparkling wines to fresh, fruit-forward table wines to fortified.

Lillooet

51

Acres Planted

2

Licensed Grape Wineries

One of the oldest towns in the province, Lillooet is located at the southern tip of the Cariboo Chilcotin region of British Columbia. The climate is very similar to the traditional grapegrowing regions in the Okanagan Valley with long, hot, dry summers. However, nights are cooler, making average summer temperatures slightly lower than the Okanagan, but at the same time preserving the fresh crisp acidity in the wines.

View of vines, ocean, and mountains at Saturna Island Vineyard, Gulf Islands, BC

Gulf Islands

110

Acres Planted

11

Licensed Grape Wineries

A vibrant community of wine producing islands – Salt Spring, Pender, Saturna, Quadra, Gabriola, Hornby, Denman – offer a glimpse into an easygoing lifestyle that allows time to savour the quiet moments with a fitting variety of unpretentious wines.

A home with sloping mountains in the background on a Cowichan Valley winery on Vancouver Island, BC.

Vancouver Island

321

Acres Planted

22

Licensed Grape Wineries

On Vancouver Island, grape winemaking really began after a provincial government-funded trial – the Duncan Project – identified Pinot Gris, Auxerrois and Ortega as promising varieties for this unique seaside environment.

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